2. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
FOOD GROUPS
• Breads and cereals:
– A good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
– Whole grain products such as whole wheat bread, oatmeal, and
brown rice are good choices.
– Look for dry breakfast cereals that are low in sugar.
3. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
FOOD GROUPS
• Fruits and vegetables:
– A good sources of fiber and are generally low in fat.
– Include dark leafy greens and yellow or orange vegetables in the
daily diet as these are rich in vitamins, minerals, and cancer-
preventing chemicals.
– Citrus fruits/juices such as oranges, grapefruits, and tangerines
are rich sources of vitamin C.
4. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
FOOD GROUPS
• Dairy products:
– A good sources of calcium and protein.
– Unless being underweight is a concern, choose fat free milk and
low-fat cheese.
– If milk causes diarrhea or gas, yogurt or cheese may be
acceptable, or try enzyme-treated milk (Lactaid).
5. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
FOOD GROUPS
• Proteins:
– Animal (beef, pork, poultry, fish, and eggs) and/or vegetable
(beans, lentils, nuts, and seeds), need to be included in the diet
daily.
– Look for lean meats and trim off visible fat.
• Fats and sweets:
– These should be limited to small amounts.
6. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION
• Role and Importance of Nutrition:
– If you have good eating habits and are well nourished, you will
have all the nutrients you need for energy and good health.
– The eating habits of a lifetime can have a great effect on an older
person.
– Many health problems common among older people are related
to lifelong diet patterns.
– These include heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood
pressure, osteoporosis (thinning bones), atherosclerosis (fatty
deposits in blood vessels), and digestive problems.
– It speeds up healing, recovery from illness, and helps maintain
health.
7. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION
• Food Labels:
– Most packaged food has a food label.
– It lists the calories per serving and specific nutrients.
– Ingredients are listed from highest to lowest by volume or weight
(most to least).
– The number of calories in a serving and the calories from fat are
listed.
– Vitamins and minerals are only listed if there is enough in the food
to make it significant.
8. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION
• Food Labels:
– Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
– Older people usually need 1600 to 2000 calories based on their
activity level (males usually require the higher number of calories)
– Total fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrate and dietary fiber
are listed both by weight in grams and percentages of daily value.
– You may also want to compare the labels to see which foods are
high in fat, good sources of vitamin C.
9. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
IMPORTANCE OF NUTRITION
• Portions and Servings:
– For many people, a portion is the amount of food they can put on
a plate.
– Some eat large portions, others eat small portions.
– With nutrition, it is important to think of portions in a standard
size.
– These are called servings.
– If a meal plan suggests 2 servings of vegetables, then that could
be 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables plus ½ cup of other chopped
vegetable.
– Serving sizes are not related to a person’s hunger or appetite.
– A serving is a standard amount of food.
10. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
Consumer RIGHTS
• Consumer Rights:
– Consumer rights dictate that the each person has the choice of
which foods to eat and choice of meal times.
– This will help the Consumer take more of an interest in eating.
– However, what happens if the person wants to eat something
that is not on their prescribed diet?
– The DCW should try to come to an agreement with the
Consumer in order to follow the diet.
– For example, if the person is diabetic and is demanding
chocolate cake, maybe the person can have a small piece and
freeze the rest.
– If you cannot resolve differences or if you have any questions,
contact your supervisor.
11. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
Consumer RIGHTS
• General guidelines:
– Note any food allergies. Some food allergies can cause a
severe allergic reaction, which can quickly lead to death.
– Note any special diet orders. Plan and prepare the meal
according to the dietary restrictions
– Make sure Consumer uses good oral hygiene.
– Poor dental hygiene can lead to inflammation of the gums and
sensitive teeth, causing pain and difficulty with chewing.
– It also can decrease the person’s appetite.
– Make sure dental appliances such as dentures and bridges fit
and are used properly making it easier for the Consumer to eat
independently.
12. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
CONSUMER RIGHTS
• Cultural and religious issues:
– Most people have foods they like and don’t like.
– Some food preferences relate to what the person ate while
growing up.
– Cultural and religious traditions also can influence what foods
people prefer to eat or avoid.
– For example, people of the Muslim faith do not eat pork. In many
Asian cultures rice is included with most meals.
– It’s best to ask and not assume anything about what
someone wants to eat.
– Typically, the DCW can respond sensibly to preferences, unless
whole classes of important foods are ruled out.
13. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
HYDRATION
• Why water is important:
– It prevents dehydration, reduces stress on the kidneys, and
helps maintain regular bowel functions.
– An adequate amount of daily water intake is by far the most
important of all the dietary requirements for the body and is
essential to life.
– A person may live for several weeks without food, but can only
survive for a few days without water.
– The amount of water we lose each day increases when the
temperature is higher.
14. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
HYDRATION
• Increased fluid intake is required for people who:
– Experience heavy sweating/perspiration.
– Use tranquilizers, seizure medications, or some behavioral
health medications.
– Experience heavy drooling.
– Experience urinary tract infections (kidney and bladder).
15. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
HYDRATION
• Signs and symptoms of dehydration:
– Dry skin, especially around mouth/lips and mucous membranes.
– Less skin flexibility/elasticity.
– Dark, concentrated urine with decreased urination.
– Less/absent sweating.
– Leads to electrolyte imbalance, disorientation, even death if
untreated.
16. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
HYDRATION
• To encourage an individual to drink fluids:
– Have water within reach, encourage intake.
– Use other fluids as well, such as shakes, fruit
drinks, soups, puddings, and gelatins.
– Avoid caffeine and sugar in fluids, if possible, since caffeine and
sugar are dehydrating to the body.
– If you drink a lot of coffee, cola (even diet cola) and other similar
liquids, you need to drink more water than the average person.
17. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
HYDRATION
• Diuretics:
– People who are on diuretics (water pills) often do not like to drink
water.
– They feel it makes them have to go to the bathroom more
frequently.
– However, not drinking enough fluids will send a message to the
brain to retain fluids.
– This makes the condition being treated even worse.
– Diuretics are often used to treat heart and circulation problems.
18. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
SPECIAL DIETS
• Diabetic Diet:
– There have been many changes recently in diabetic diets.
– Current diabetic management includes counting carbohydrates.
– Concentrated sugars can be eaten as long as the portion size
and frequency are limited.
– Specific dietary guidelines should be obtained from the
Consumer’s physician.
– Ask your supervisor if dietary guidelines are available for the
Consumer.
19. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
SPECIAL DIETS
• Modified Diet:
– You can change the texture, or puree foods to accommodate an
individual’s difficulty with chewing or swallowing.
– Try putting regular food into a blender/food processor instead of
using baby food.
– This way the client can eat what the rest of the family is
eating, only the consistency has been changed.
– Sometimes it helps just to cut the food into very small bite-sized
pieces.
20. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
SPECIAL DIETS
• High fiber:
– To improve digestion, elimination and overall health.
– Fiber is the part of a plant that cannot be digested.
– Fiber is found in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and dried
beans.
– The recommended amount is 25 to 35 grams of fiber a day.
21. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
SPECIAL DIETS
• Renal:
– For people with reduced kidney function.
– Generally the person needs to limit foods high in protein, salt
and potassium.
– These foods include meats, whole grains, milk and cheese.
– Salt substitutes are used with caution since they are generally
high in potassium.
– Consumers on dialysis will also have to limit their fluid intake.
22. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
SPECIAL DIETS
• Gluten-free:
– For people who have celiac disease, an intestinal disorder, or a
wheat allergy.
– The person is not able to have any food with wheat, barley or rye
in it.
– They may be able to have rice, corn or potatoes.
– Note: Some foods use wheat as a thickener.
– Read the list of ingredients on the labels to avoid the ingredients
that are not allowed.
23. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
SPECIAL DIETS
• Lactose intolerant:
– For people who have difficulty digesting lactose, a sugar found in
milk and milk products.
– Symptoms can include stomach pain, gas, nausea, and diarrhea.
– People can avoid milk and milk products, but they should
increase their dietary intake of foods high in calcium such as fish
with soft bones (salmon and sardines) and dark green
vegetables such as spinach.
– There are also lactose-reduced milk products and pills to take
with regular milk.
– Processed cheese and yogurt are usually well tolerated.
24. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
MENU PLANNING
• Menu planning practical tips:
– When planning and preparing meals, ask the Consumer what he
or she would like.
– Don’t forget to include a variety of fluids when planning menus.
– Remember fresh over frozen over processed.
– Be aware of the dietary restrictions when planning meals.
– Serving sizes are generally smaller that what people eat (1/2
sandwich, 1/2 cup vegetables, 4 crackers).
– Meal time is a social time, sit and visit with Consumer if they like.
– Request recipes from Consumer or family so that you can
prepare favorite meals.
25. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
MENU PLANNING
• Common Mistakes:
– Preparing meals without asking the Consumer what he/she
prefers.
– Preparing large portions is wasteful, costly and unhealthy.
– Preparing processed foods and soups, which are high in fat and
sodium.
– Forgetting fluids as essential parts of meals and snacks.
26. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
FOOD PREPARATION
• Washing your hands:
– Washing your hands following correct procedures before
preparing food is very important.
– A DCW may see several Consumers and/or do different tasks
such as cleaning, bathing and food preparation.
– When preparing food for a Consumer, the DCW needs to clean
fingernails (fake nails) and contain hair (pull back or wear a
hairnet).
– Wear disposable gloves to reduce contamination and cover
broken skin areas (cover with a bandage first).
27. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
FOOD PREPARATION
• Sanitizing surfaces, dishes and equipment:
– Use only clean utensils for tasting food.
– Thoroughly sanitize all dishes, utensils and work surfaces with a
bleach solution after each use.
– Use bleach solution (1:10) to clean with.
– To sanitize dishes and utensils water must be at least 170°F, or
add bleach to the wash water.
– If a dishwasher is used, do not open the door to stop the dry
cycle. The dry cycle is an effective sanitizer.
– Sponges used to clean the kitchen where food is prepared
should NOT be used to clean up bathroom-type spills.
28. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
FOOD PREPARATION
• Preparing vegetables:
– Prepackaged salads and other vegetables that are not cooked
before eating are considered a current leading source of
foodborne illness in the U.S.
– Do not serve salad greens or raw vegetables unless you have
washed them.
– It is also acceptable to soak them in a weak bleach solution as
follows:
• Fill a sink halfway with cool water.
• Add 2 ounces (4 tablespoons or 1/4 cup) of chlorine bleach.
• Soak produce for no more than 5 minutes.
• Rinse the produce in plain cool water, drain, pat dry and store.
• This also makes the produce last longer in the refrigerator.
29. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
FOOD PREPARATION
• Other guidelines:
– Fresh vegetables should be eaten soon after being purchased.
– Some veggies such as potatoes need scrubbing to remove the
dirt. It is better not to peel such vegetables, because nutritional
value will be lost.
– Avoid boiling vegetables because nutrients will end up in the
water. Instead you can microwave, steam, or stir-fry vegetables
in water or a little bit of oil.
– Frying vegetables (or any other items) can improve taste, but
excess oil adds calories.
– If possible, have two cutting boards; one for raw meat, poultry
and fish, and the other for vegetable and cooked foods.
30. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
FOOD PREPARATION
• Defrosting meat:
– There are three safe methods to thaw frozen meat
(the Thaw Law):
– Leave it in the refrigerator.
– Place the frozen food in a watertight plastic bag under cold water
and change the water often.
– Microwave the meat.
Caution: It is NOT a safe practice to thaw meat, poultry or fish on the kitchen
counter. Bacteria can multiply rapidly at room temperature.
31. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
FOOD STORAGE
• Meat:
– Store fresh or thawed raw meat, poultry and fish in the
refrigerator.
– Store cooked meat or poultry products in the freezer if you want
to keep them longer than a few days.
• Canned foods:
– If a commercially canned food shows any sign of spoilage—
bulging can, leakage, spurting liquid, off odor or mold—throw it
out.
– DO NOT TASTE IT.
Two-hour rule: Discard (throw away) any perishable foods
left at room temperature longer than 2 hours.
When temperatures are above 90°F, discard food after 1 hour!
32. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
Did You Know?
At room
temperature, bacteria in Store leftovers in the
food can double every refrigerator or freezer
20 minutes! immediately after the meal.
Do not rely on reheating to
make leftovers safe. Staph Refrigerated leftovers need
bacteria produce a toxin that to be tossed after 3 days.
is not destroyed by heating.
33. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
FOOD STORAGE
• Open containers:
– Avoid storing foods in cabinets that are under sinks, drains or
water pipes.
– Wash the tops of cans and jars with soap and water before
opening.
– All open containers should be stored in a dated, closable
container within four hours of opening, stored a minimum of four
inches off the floor.
34. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
FOOD STORAGE
• Refrigerator and freezer temperatures:
– Refrigerator temperatures should be kept between 40 degrees
and 32 degrees.
– Freezer temperatures should be kept at 0 degrees or less.
– Check temperatures with a thermometer. Don’t rely on the
refrigerator dials.
Keep food clean
Keep hot food hot
Keep cold food cold
When in doubt, throw it out!
35. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
FOODBORNE ILLNESS
• Foodborne Illness:
– Foodborne illness is transmitted to people by food or
beverages, sometimes called food poisoning.
– The very young and the very old are at increased risk for
foodborne illnesses for different reasons.
– The immune system is not as efficient.
– Stomach acid decreases with aging.
– Underlying conditions such as diabetes, cancer
treatments, kidney disease, HIV/AIDS, and a history of an organ
transplant increase the risk for illness.
36. NUTRITION AND FOOD
PREPARATION
FOODBORNE ILLNESS
• Greatest risk:
– Consumers who are at greatest risk are advised not to eat:
– Raw fin fish and shellfish, including oysters, clams, mussels, and
scallops.
– Raw or unpasteurized milk or cheese, and soft cheese
(Brie, Camembert).
– Raw or lightly cooked egg or egg products including salad
dressings, cookie or cake batter, sauces, and beverages such as
eggnog. Foods made from commercially pasteurized eggs are
safe to eat.
– Raw meat or poultry.
– Raw sprouts (alfalfa, clover, and radish).
– Unpasteurized or untreated fruit or vegetable juice.